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Kelsey Douglass was prominent in Texas during the time of the revolt of the Anglo-American community against the Mexican regime and the founding of the short lived Republic of Texas. He was elected a member of the Second Congress of the Republic in 1837 and was also elected a brigadier general of the militia, serving as commander of the Texas forces in the decisive battle with the Cherokees at the Battle of the Neches on July 15 and 16, 1839. Kelsey Douglass was also a charter member of the Masonic Milam Lodge No. 40 of Nacogdoches and a committee member of a group who attended a meeting in Houston for the purpose of forming the Grand Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. He died in Nacogdoches on October 4, 1840, and the town of Douglass is named in his honor. (Perkins, Kim, "Kelsey Harris Douglass" in The Handbook of Texas, 1996)

Scope and Content Note

Among the collection is seven letters written by Kelsey H. Douglass to his wife Minerva while he was a member of Congress in Houston. The letters are mostly concerned with getting things done at home during Kelsey's absence. These letters were laminated with the intent of preserving them. Unfortunately the lamination is starting to turn darker in color. There is also two letters from Minerva Douglass' aunt and uncle, Jesse and Mary Childress Benton. One letter was written from Nachitoches, LA where they had gone after leaving Texas before Kelsey's death. The other was written upon receipt of the news of Kelsey's death.

This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu.

This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu.